1. Jollof Rice — A Worldwide Culinary Influencer

Jollof rice, Ghana’s celebrated tomato-based rice dish, has become one of Africa’s most recognizable foods across the globe. Its influence is so widespread that entire cooking challenges, restaurant events and food festivals have been created around it.

How Jollof Influenced Global Cuisine:

• Restaurants abroad now serve “Jollof bowls,” “West African rice bowls,” and “African spicy rice.”

• Food bloggers worldwide publish “Ghana-inspired jollof” or “West African tomato rice.”

• Fusion chefs create jollof risotto, jollof-stuffed peppers and jollof burritos.

Its bold, smoky, tomato-rich flavour has made jollof a doorway for many foreigners into Ghanaian and West African cuisine.

2. Shito — The Ghanaian Hot Sauce Entering Global Kitchens

Shito, Ghana’s famous black chili oil, made from dried pepper, ginger, fish powder and shrimp powder, is gaining recognition in international food circles for its depth and versatility.

Global Influence:

• Gourmet hot sauce companies produce “African chili paste” and “Ghana-inspired chili oil.”

• Fusion restaurants use shito in pasta dishes, on fries, burgers, sushi, seafood and tacos.

• Food influencers increasingly feature shito as a bold alternative to sriracha or chili crisp.

Shito’s global rise reflects the world’s growing appetite for unique, spicy condiments.

3. Kelewele — The Inspiration Behind Spiced Plantain Dishes

While plantains are eaten across the tropics, Ghanaian kelewele — seasoned with ginger, pepper, cloves and nutmeg — has strongly influenced how Western chefs flavour their plantain dishes.

Signs of Its Influence:

• Many restaurants serve “spiced fried plantains” modeled after kelewele’s seasoning profile.

• Vegan and plant-based cookbooks include kelewele-style recipes.

• Food creators on YouTube and TikTok highlight “Ghana-style spiced plantains.”

Kelewele has helped turn plantains into a trendy global ingredient.

4. Groundnut Soup — The Base for International Peanut Stews

Ghanaian groundnut soup, made from blended peanuts, tomatoes and spices, has inspired the widely popular “African peanut stew” that appears in Western cooking blogs, vegan cafés and meal kits.

Global Influence:

• Vegan restaurants serve peanut stews with Ghana-style ingredients.

• Western recipes combine peanut stew with sweet potatoes or kale, but the flavour base remains Ghanaian.

• Peanut soups in global cuisine now often reference “West African flavours.”

Groundnut soup has become a major influence in global plant-based cuisine.

5. Sobolo — Fueling the Hibiscus Drink Trend

Sobolo, Ghana’s refreshing hibiscus and ginger drink, has helped popularize hibiscus beverages internationally.

Evidence of Influence:

• Cafés and juice bars worldwide offer hibiscus iced tea, hibiscus lemonade and hibiscus ginger drinks.

• Kombucha and health-drink brands use hibiscus as a main ingredient.

• Cocktail menus increasingly feature hibiscus syrups inspired by sobolo’s flavour.

Sobolo has turned hibiscus into a fashionable global beverage ingredient.

6. Waakye — An Inspiration for Modern Grain Bowls

Waakye — Ghana’s rice-and-beans dish — has inspired the global “grain bowl” trend seen in healthy food culture.

Global Adaptations:

• Restaurants abroad offer “West African grain bowls” or “waakye bowls” layered with rice, beans, plantains and salads.

• The idea of combining multiple toppings — salad, protein, gari, shito — echoes waakye plating.

• Chefs use waakye flavours to inspire new vegetarian bowl dishes.

Waakye’s colourful layout has shaped modern food presentation trends.

7. Ghanaian Grilled Chicken — Influencing Barbecue Seasonings

Ghana’s marinade style — rich in ginger, garlic, onion, pepper and warm spices — has influenced Western barbecue rubs and chicken seasonings.

Influence Shown In:

• “West African spice rubs” now sold in supermarkets abroad.

• Restaurants serving “Ghana-inspired grilled chicken” or “African BBQ chicken.”

• Chefs blending Ghanaian flavours with American barbecue traditions.

This reflects Ghana’s imprint on global grilling culture.

Conclusion

From the smoky richness of jollof to the fiery kick of shito and the refreshing taste of sobolo, Ghanaian cuisine has made a significant mark on global food culture. As more Ghanaian chefs innovate and as diaspora communities share their cooking, these flavours continue to spread — influencing restaurants, inspiring fusion dishes and reshaping the world’s understanding of African cuisine.

Ghana’s bold, colourful foods are not only being enjoyed worldwide, but are actively shaping global culinary trends — and their influence will continue to grow.